JOHN HAMMOND

John Hammond began his television career in Dayton, Ohio at the age of 5 when he was the “L’il Buckaroo” for the Gabby Hayes’ show. He continued to act and model through high school and college. As a student at Wayne State University, he studied production and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication followed by a Masters in Education.

After a 13-year career as a teacher and administrator, he started his own production company, and created an animated series of children’s shorts entitled “Danny” for the CBC using his long-time friend, Josh White, Jr, as narrator.

In 1979 he was hired by Cox Cable to build the first Michigan cable television station in St. Claire Shores, produced and directed “The Jackie Gordon Show” and launched the very successful “Due Process”, which is still on-the-air locally.

In 1982, he became Manager of Programming Services for Tribune/United Cable of Oakland County, Michigan and started the nation’s first locally produced cable news program, Oakland Weekday News.

In 1991, he was appointed the Executive Producer for the United Auto Workers Union and built a state-of-the-art production studio at Solidarity House. His productions include the series “EyeOpener”, several issue oriented documentaries, including a memorial of life of former UAW President Leonard Woodcock, narrated by Eli Wallach. He also produced the UAW’s local and national radio and television commercials and staged UAW conventions.

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious EMMY® for the documentary, “The Good Fight”, about the life of famed UAW president Walter Reuther, narrated by Ossie Davis.

In December 2009, he retired from the UAW, started Fafoutee Films and produced a talk show for WTVS about the Michigan Film Tax Incentives. He is currently working on a documentary with his wife about Detroiter’s who blog about the city.

.